Rural mailbox signal flag



Oct. 15, 1957 F. DOETSCH 2,309,730

RURAL MAILBOX SIGNAL FLAG I Filed Dec. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

/4\.. 5&EmL 4a Frederick Doe/sch IN V EN TOR.

Filed Dec. 22, 1955 F. DOETSCH RURAL MAILBOX SIGNAL FLAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,6 Fig. 3

a a a I Frederick DoeIsc/r INVENTOR.

BY wflmy 23m RURAL MAILBGX SIGNAL FLAG Frederick Doetseh, New Orleans, La.

Application December 22, 1955, Serial No. 554,706

2 Claims. (Cl. 232-35) The present invention relates to a conventional-type rural mailbox having a functionally and structurally irnproved signal flag thereon, that is, a flag which is expressly constructed and mounted so that it may be readily placed in an up position by the patron or resident and which, through the medium of novel mechanical means, is automatically swung down when mail is picked up for dispatch by the carrier.

As is generally well known by users of rural mailboxes, postal regulations provide that rural carriers shall open and examine mailboxes of patrons only when signals are displayed to indicate that the boxes contain mail for dispatch. When the mail is collected from the box, the carrier having picked up the mail, lowers the flag to its down position, this being so whether or not he delivers mail to the given box.

The object of the present invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing prior art signal flags and, in doing so, to provide an acceptable construction which may be acceptably approved, which will appeal to and be endorsed by manufacturers and retailers of rural mailboxes, and will more satisfactorily effectually serve the needs of users and, particularly, mail carriers.

Stated somewhat more specifically in carrying out the principles of the invention and keeping in mind the fact that the signal flag is supposed to be in a lowered position except when the patron has placed mail in the box for the carrier to collect, a practical and novel structural adaptation is provided. To this end a socket member is affixed to one vertical side wall of the box and a specially designed and constructed lower end portion of the arm or staff of the flag is pivotally and slidably mounted therein. An appropriately arranged and designed trigger finger is pivotally connected at its lower end to the hinged lower portion of the usual door, has its intermediate portion slidably mounted on the side wall of the box and has its upper end portion projectable into the socket member when the door is opened by the carrier, this in a manner to bring it into end thrust engagement with the cooperating lower end of the flag arm, whereby said flag, as an entity is lifted up and caused to swing out and down under the forces of gravity thus providing what is to be construed here as a flag which is automatically swung down after having been previously set up by the patron requiring mail pick-up service.

Other and more specific objects and features of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional or standard rural mailbox equipped with the improved socalled automatic signal flag, the flag being shown in its up position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same with the shield or cover removed and exposing the mechanism which constitutes the essence of the invention;

United States Patent v 2,809,780 Patented Oct. 15, 1957 Figure 3 is likewise a fragmentary side elevation showing the door opened, the flag down and the relationship of parts under these operating conditions;

Figures 4 and 5 are sections, on an enlarged scale, taken on the planes of the lines 4-4 and 55 of Figure 1, with parts appearing in elevation;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the flag by itself; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a part which is hereinafter designated as a trigger finger.

Referring now to the drawings the rural mailbox is denoted generally by the numeral 10 and, for convenience, the side wall on which the signal means is mounted is denoted at 12. The open front mailbox shown is standard and is equipped with the usual marginally flanged outwardly and downwardly swingable front door 14. Customary latch means, if desired, is provided at the top as at 16. The lower flanged portions of the door are hingedly mounted as usual at 18. In carrying out the invention a suitable adapter bracket 20 is provided and this is riveted or otherwise fastened to the marginal flange of the door as shown and its lower end portion 22 extends below the pivot point 18. This is done to accommodate the end thrust trigger finger 24. The trigger finger is rigid and preferably arcuate in shape and has an olf-set lower end 26 which overlaps and is hingedly or pivotally connected as at 28 to the lower extending end portion 22. The upper or intermediate portion of the finger is provided with an arcuate elongated slot 30 and to one side of the slot with a stop shoulder 32. The slot serves to accommodate a suitably headed assembling rivet or the like 34 which is fastened in the box as shown in Figure 5. The upper projecting corner portion of the trigger finger is slightly off-set to the left and is generally V-shaped and provides a trip member 36.

The flag is denoted as an entity by the numeral 38 and the flag proper is designated at 40 being fastened to what may be called the normal upper or outer end of the staff or arm 42. The lower end portion is preferably L-shaped and includes a horizontal reach 44 and a vertical complemental reach 46. The latter is provided with an oblique angle slot 48. The extreme lower end is notched to provide a rounded clearance edge or surface 50 and provides, what is more important, a depending tappet-like abutment or release element 52.

In order to bring about the desired cooperating relationship between the adjacent ends of the trigger finger 24 and L-shaped lower end portion of the flag arm the means best shown in Figures 2 and 3 is employed. This comprises a fixture which is specifically described as a socket member 54. This is a simple channel-shaped plate having attaching flanges 56 suitably fastened to the side wall 12 with a space existing between the web or body portion and the wall 12 and providing a socket which is open at its top and bottom portions. The open bottom portion serves to permit the upper slotted end and trip 36 of the trigger finger 24 to be guided and to project into the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. In Figure 2 the finger is retracted and therefore the trip 36 is in its fully released position. This is the position of parts when the door is closed. With the lower specially designed end portion of the reach 46 projecting downwardly and telescopically into the socket a desired relationship is had. To accomplish this there is a headed rivet 58 provided and this is mounted in the side wall 12 and web portion of the socket member. It spans the space therebetween and serves to per mit the slotted portion 48 of the arm to be slidably and hingedly mounted. The left vertical wall of the socket member provides a retaining shoulder to keep the -flag in its up position when it has been set in this position by the patron as illustrated in Figure 2. With further reference to Figure 2 it will be seen that the upper corice ner portion of the socket member is cut away to provide a clearance opening 60. This is the opening through which the lower end portion of the arm is permitted to operate as is obvious. Comparing positions seen in Figures 2 and 3 the functioning of the opening will be clear. Also and somewhat incidentally, the numeral 62 denotes a fixed lug or equivalent element which is fastened on the side wall and properly located to function as a stop which limits the downward swing of the flag and holds it in the down position seen in Figure 3.

. Assuming that the door is closed and the flag is down (position not shown) if the resident or patron desires to have mail picked up he will open the door, place the out-going mail in the box without efiecting the move ment of the fiag at this moment. He will then close the door and, according to regulations, will set his flag up to notify the mail carrier that mail is in the box to be dispatched. This means that all he has to do is to catch hold of the flag and swing it from right to left and to allow the slotted end portion to drop down into the socket of the socket member 54 so that it occupies the mechanically retained position seen in Figure 2. In this position the trip 36 is of course disengaged from the releasing and tilting abutment or tappet 52. It is, however, lined up and guided into the socket and in readiness for operation when the door is opened by the carrier. Assuming then that the door has now been opened by the carrier as it is swung down to the position shown in Figure 3 the trip 36 moves up into the socket and engages the abutment whereupon the flag is bodily lifted and slid in an upwardly direction and is pushed over from left to right causing the slotted end to slide on the pivot pin 58. Then the forces of gravity take over and the flag drops to its down position. It follows, therefore, that the flag is automatically dropped when the door is opened by the carrier without requiring any attention whatsoever insofar as the carrier is concerned and relieving him of the usual step of having 'to place the flag down by hand.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a conventional-type rural mailbox embodying an open-front-box, a hingedly mounted outwardly and downwardly swinging regulation marginally flanged door normally closing said front, a socket member fixed exteriorly to a side wall of the box adjacent to but rearwardly of said door, said socket member constituting a keeper and guide, a pin fixed to said side Wall and socket member and bridging an intervening space having its lower end operatively connected with a porbetween said side wall and the body wall of said socket member, a signal flag having a supporting and operating arm, the lower end portion of said arm telescoping into said socket member and having a slot pivotally and slidingly mounted on said pin, the extreme lower end of said arm having a depending arm lifting andttilting abutment, and a flag tripping and operating trigger finger tion of one. of the marginal flanges of the lower hinged end portion of said door, the upper end of said trigger finger being aligned with and guided into the keeper portion of said socket member, said upper end having end thrust engagement with said abutment, having pin and slot connection with said side wall, being spaced below and released from said abutment when the door is closed and having an upstanding trip member which is guided into engagement with said tilting abutment when the door is opened. 7

2. In combination, a conventional-type rural mailbox embodying the usual open -front-box with a hingedly mounted outwardly and downwardly swinging regulation marginally flanged door, a socket member fixed to an exterior surface of one sidewall of the box adjacent to but rearwardly of said door, said socket member providing an open ended socket constituting a keeper as well as a guide, a pin fixed to said side wall and web portion of said socket member and bridging and intervening the space between said side wall and web portion, a signal flag having a supporting and operating arm,

'the lower end portion of said arm being L-shaped and having a slot pivotally and slidingly mounted on said pin, said lower end portion being adapted to telescope into the socket to engage a wall of the socket whereby the socket serves to hold the flag in an elevated position, the terminal of said lower end having a depending arm lifting and tilting abutment, and a flag tripping and operating trigger finger having its lower end operatively and detachably bracketed to a portion of one of the marginal flanges of the "lower hinged end portion of said door, the upper end of said trigger finger being aligned with and guided into the keeper portion of said socket member, said upper end having end thrust engagement with said abutment, having pin and slot connection with said side wall, being spaced below and released from :said abutment when the door is closed and having an upstanding trip member which is guided into engagement with said tilting abutment when the door is opened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Babcock July 20, 1954 

